Process for producing reactions in gases and apparatus for practising the same.



v L. L'. SUMMERS. PROCESS FOR PRPDUGING REACTIONS 1N GASES AND APPARATUSFOR PRAOTISING THE SAME. APPLIGATION FILED NOV. 25, 1911.

1,130,941, I Patented Mar.9,1915.

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LELAND L. SUMMERS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PROCESS FOR PRODUCING REACTIONS IN GASES AND APPARATUS FOR PRACTISINGTHE SAME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Marat), 1915.

p1icat1on filed November 25, 1911. Serial No. 662,453.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LELAND L. SUMMERS, a citizen ofthe United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Processes for Producingieactions in Gases and Apparatus for Practising the Same, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates more particularly to the synthesis of gaseouscompounds such for example as the oxids of nitrogen which require fortheir .formation an intense degree of heat, yet which are readilydissociated at substantially the temperatures of their formation. It iswell known that in a process for the formation of such compounds it isdesirable that their temperature be reduced as soon as possible aftertheir formation in order to prevent their decomposition at the hightemperature employed and various procedures and apparatus have beenconceived and devised with this end in view.

In certain former applications Nos. 418,505 filed Feb. 29, 1808, and494,386 filed May 6, 1909, I have described suitable processes andapparatus for accomplishing the synthesis of certain compounds ofnitrogen. Briefly stated, the processes described in these priorapplications consist in highly heating one of the reacting substancesfrom which the gas is formed and introducing to it While in the highlyheated state the other substance in a cool or refrigerated con: dition.In the processes of these earlier applications one of the substancestaking part in the reaction is a solid and the other substance orsubstances and the products of the reaction are gases. The solidmaterial is heated to the necessary temperature for the reaction and thegaseous re-agent introduced in the refrigerated state and since theproduct of the reaction is Volatile or gaseous it immediately mingleswith that portion of the cold gas which has not entered into combinationand has its temperature reduced thereby to such a degree that it isstable. The gases containing the product are drawn off and the latterseparated. In this manner decomposition or dissociation of the formedproduct in the heated zone of reaction is prevented. In a thirdapplication covering this general subject matter and of even dateherewith Serial No. 662,452, I have described a process and apof gaseouscomated gas serves to immediately reduce the temperature of the productsand their stability is further insured by immediate removal from the areor heat zone.

In my present process, which-will be described more in detail below, Iprovide an additional step for preventing the dissociation of the formedproduct. In the present inventiom'I likewise employ an electric are asthe heating means. and provide for the immediate Withdrawal of the gasescontaining the product of reaction to a cooler region. The process ofthe present application coincides in these respects with that of theapplication of even date, referred to above. Instead, however, ofemploying a continuous arc for heating purposes, I provide for theintermittent extinction thereof immediately following the admissionthereto of a volume of the reacting gases and their combination, wherebythe desired compounds are formed during the existence of the arc andimmediately cooled by the extinction thereof.

In. practising this invention, the reacting gases may beintroducedtogether if desired but preferably they are introduced sepa--Y rately as in the process of the application last referred to, the moreinert gas receiving a comparatively prolonged heating to raise it to thedesired temperature, and the more active gas introduced intermittentlyjust prior to the extinction of the arc, whereby as in the process ofthe companion application the bonds of the inert gas are weakened and itis put in condition for a combination with the more active gas. Thelatter may, if desired, be refrigerated or cooled to any desired oradvantageous extent, though this is not essential.

In the following specification, I have described the invention moreparticularly with "reference to the formation'of the oxids of ture, andFig.

nitrogen but it is to be understood that it is not limited thereto butis applicable to. the synthesis of other compounds of nitrogen and tocompounds in which nitrogen does not enter and my invention iscorrespondingly bread as set forth in the following claims. Furthermore,,my invention is not limited to the treatment of substances which arenormally gaseous but is clearly applicable to any materials which may beintroduced into the heated Zone in a sufiiciently fluid form as forexample in theform of vapor or in that of a spray.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown diagrammatically twopreferred forms and arrangements of'apparatus for practising my processbut it is to be understood that it may be practised in other appa ratusof suitable character and that my invention, in so far as it relates tothe apparatus, is not limited to either specific construction shown butembraces a wide range of equivalents thereof, which come within thescope of the following claims.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a formand arrangement of apparatus designed for the introduction of the gasestogether as a mix- 2 an apparatus and arrangement designed gasesseparately .both views being partly sectional and partly diagrammatic.

In that form of apparatus represented in Fig. 1, I employ as a reactionchamber a furnace at of suitable refractory surrounded by a sheet metaljacket 6 and provided with an opening or flue c for the escape, of gasesand products of the reaction. Registering with the flue c is a coolingchamber d which inthis instance is in the form of a water volumecurrent.

, ports 7", g.

cooled conduit having a surrounding water chambe e provided with inletand outlet A pair of electrodes h, i, the members of which extend intothe furnace chamber are spaced apart a suflicient distance to maintain asuitablearc and are connected to a dynamo Z, alternating generator orother suitable source of low tension, large Preferably the dynamo is ofsuch character and the electrodes so arranged that the are produced,while of great heating capacity or volume, is not very stable and thedynamo is capable of maintaining the are, once starting the same. employa separate circuit with means for producing an intermittent spark orcurrent of suitable frequency and of a voltage sufficient to leap theelectrode gap and so establish the heating are before referred to. Forthis purpose, former such as shown at m, the secondary of which isconnected up to the electrodes 7L, 2',

for the introduction of the established, but not of For the latterpurpose, I

a suitable means is a trans and the primary to any suitable source ofalternating current. In order to protect the main circuit 12 includingthe dynamo or generator Z and prevent it short-circuiting the hightension circuit 0, I provide one or more inductances or choking coils p,q, therein, which may be designed to permit the passage of directcurrent or a current of the frequency of the alternating generator ifthe latter is employed but to choke off the high frequency currents. Asuitable conduit 1" is provided with a twyer 8 extending into an openingt in the wall of the furnace at a point substantially pposite'the arebetween the electrodes and a valve u controls the flow through theconduit'of the gases which are to take part in the reaction. The valveis normally pressed to its seat by a spring 0) but to its stem 92 isattached the movable core g of a solenoid z, the winding of which isinterposed in the main circuit. Whenever a current flows through themain circuit by reason of the establishment of the arc in the furnace,the solenoid will open the valve and permit the flow of gases to thefurnace chamber;

In operation the dynamo Zwill'be continuously operated impressing, avoltage across the arc gap and the primary of the transformer mwill alsobe continuously furnished with alternating current. A' spark or seriesof sparks will then leap the arc gap and the heating are produced by thecurrent from the dynamo will thereupon be established in the well knownmanner. As soon, however, as the arc is established, the valve wwill beopened by the solenoid and the gases under'pressure will be injectedinto the furnace chamber, and immediately extinguish the are by blowingit out but not, however, before their temperature has been sufficientlyraised to effect their combination. As soon as the arc is extinguishedit is im- ,mediately reestablished by the high tension .'Fig. 1, thegases to be combined are fed tovgether into the furnace through a singleconduit. It is sometimes desirable however in operating with certaingases to subject one of the reacting-gases to the effects of the are fora longer period than that for which the other gas is subjected, and withthis end in view in Fig. 2, I have shown. a furnace adapted for theseparate introduction of the gases. In this construction, the furnacebody a, the outlet flue a, cooling chamber d, conduit 1', twyer 8,generator Z and circuits are substantially as before described, but

the conduit and twyer serve only for the introduction of the more activegas which may, if desired, be cooled or refrigerated to any desiredextent before its introduction into the furnace chamber. The electrodesh, z", are hollow and provided with valves U, U and serve forthe-introduction of the more inert gas, though obviously this gas couldbe introduced in any other .manner. The twyer and electrodes may be andpreferably are water-cooled and are so shown in the drawing and thevalves U, U therein are controlled by electromagnetic means Z, Z similarto the solenoid a above described and likewise included in the maincircuit. Preferably, however, in this form of the device, the solenoidz' is more sluggish than the solenoids Z, Z so that the more inert gasesare introduced into the are an appreciable period before the more activegas with the result that they are thoroughly heated before coming incontact with the latter. After the desired temperature is attained ablast of the more active gas is automatically admitted by the operationof valve u and the arc extinguished and this operation may be repeatedindefinitely as in the other described form .of apparatus.

By process and means herein described,'- 'I enabled to heat the gases orthat one-of them requiring a high heat for its molecular dissociation toa high temperature and immediately upon the formation of the compoundsreduce the temperature to a point at which the compounds are perfectlystable and therefore I am enabled to get a much higher percentage of thedesired products than has been possible with the treatment and apparatusheretofore used.

While I have disclosed automatic means for carrying my improved processinto ef fect, it is obvious that it may be controlled by hand, to agreater or less extent, though the operation would necessarily beslower. And there are certain possibilities and advantages in the sloweroperation, whether controlled automatically or by hand, among which maybe mentioned that the reestablishment of the are after its extinctionmay be delayed until all or substantially the products of the previousreaction shall have been completely driven out of the chamber.

I claim:

1'. A process for the formation of gaseous compounds which consists infeeding the component gases separately to a source of heat and thenextinguishing the latter.

2. A process for the synthesis of gases consisting in feeding thecomponent gases separately to an electric arc and then extinguishing theare.

3. A process for the synthesis of gases consisting in first feeding themore inert gas to an are, then feeding the more active thereto,injecting the other-gas under pressure into the are. and therebyextinguishing the same, and immediately reestablishing the arc.

6. The process for the formation of gas eous compounds from an inert anda relatively active gas consisting in establishing an are, feeding themore inert gas thereto, and subsequently injecting the more active gasunder pressure and thereby extinguishing the arc.

7. A process for the formation of compounds of nitrogen consisting informing an are, feeding nitrogen thereto, and subsequently injecting amore active gas under pressure and thereby extinguishing the are.

8. A process for the formation of gaseous compounds of nitrogenconsisting in forming an arc, supplying the component gases separatelythereto, one of the gasesbeing injected into the are under pressure andthereby extinguishing the latter.

'9. A process for the formation of oxids of nitrogen consisting inestablishing an are, feeding nitrogen thereto, and subsequentlyinjecting oxygen under pressure and thereby extinguishing the are.

10. A process for the formation of gaseous compounds consisting inestablishing an are, feeding the gaseous components thereto, one of tnecomponents being injected under pressure into the arc and therebyextinguishing the arc and removing the gases containing the products toa cooling chamber.

11. In an apparatus for effecting the synthesis of gases at hightemperatures, a pair of electrodes, means for supplying a current oflarge volume and low voltage to the electrodes to form an arc, and meansfor feeding one of the gases to the arc andinjecting the other into thearc to extinguish the latter.

12. In an apparatus for the synthesis of gaseous com-pounds, a furnacecomprising a pair of electrodes, means for furnishing a current of lowvoltage and great quantity to the electrodes, a twyer adapted to injectgases into the arc, and means operated by the current in the electrodecircuit for controlling the flow of gases to the twyer.

13. In an apparatus for the synthesis of gaseous compounds, a pair ofelectrodes, a source of current of high volume and low voltage connectedthereto, a source of current of high voltage and low volume alsoconnected to the electrodes, and means for injecting gases into the arecontrolled by the current of large volume and low voltage.

14. In an apparatus for effecting the synthesis of gaseous compounds,the combination of a furnace, a pair of electrodes projecting thereinto,a'main circuit, means for furnishing thereto a current of low voltageand high amperage, a second circuit like- Wise connected to theelectrodes and a transformer therein for furnishing a current'of highvoltage and small volume, a tWyer projecting into the furnace, a conduitfor supplying the tWyer with gases, a valve in the conduit and solenoids-in the main circuit for controlling the valve, and an inductance alsoin the main circuit for preventing short-circuiting of the high tensioncircuit.

15. A process for the synthesis of gases consisting in impressing uponthe arc of an electric furnace an electro'motive force just capable ofmaintaining a current but not of establishing it, intermittentlyimpressing a higher electromotive force to establish the arc, andinjectingunder pressure gases to be synthetized into the are when it hasbeen established and thereby extinguishing the are. 7

16. A process for the formation of gaseouscompounds which consists infeeding the component gases to a source of heat, ex=

tinguishing the latter, removing the prod LELAND ,L, SUMMERS. Witnesses2 V I JOHN B. MACAULEY, ROBERT DOBBERMAN.

